Shoe holding apparatus



Jan. 10, 1961 1.1. DREW 2,967,312

SHOE HOLDING APPARATUS 67 clb /N ('1, Been;

INVENTOR.

United States Patent SHOE HOLDING APPARATUS John J. Drew, 1151 Fairlield Ave., Long Beach, Calif.

Filed Jan. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 784,950

3 Claims. (Cl. 12--125) This invention relates to shoe holding apparatus and more particularly to a portable apparatus for holding and positioning shoes to be shined.

It is well known that considerable difficulty is encountered when shoes are to be cleaned or shined in properly positioning the shoe in such a way that it is securely held at a location which is convenient to the person cleaning or shining the shoe.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for retaining a shoe in a position at which it is convenient to clean or shine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe holding apparatus which positions and stifiens the shoe at an easily accessible height and location.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a shoe holding and positioning apparatus which is convenient for household use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe holding and stiffening apparatus which is particularly adapted to be fitted and securely positioned against the edge of a door at a height which makes the shoe conveniently accessible.

The present invention is a shoe holding and positioning apparatus particularly adapted to be secured to the edge of a door which apparatus includes a shoe support member upon which the shoe is positioned. The shoe support member is affixed to and extends from a vertical member which is adapted to engage the edge of a door. Clamping means are provided for clamping the vertical member to the edge of a door preferably by alfixing the member in an adjustable relationship to the knob of the door. A horizontally extending member is spaced above the shoe support member and defines a clamping means for clamping the shoe to the shoe support member. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to the apparatus and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated byway of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and example only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the apparatus of the present invention as affixed to the edge of the door with a shoe in position to be cleaned or shined;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation corresponding to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial plan view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the members used to clamp and stiffen the shoe in position on the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a presently preferred embodi- "ice ment of the apparatus of the present invention which includes a vertical support member 11 which is adapted to be adjustably affixed to the edge of a door 12. The vertical support 11 is substantially equal in thickness to the thickness of the door 12 with brackets 14 attached to the member 11 and extending inward beyond the inner edge 15 of the member such that the brackets 14 span the door to properly position the vertical member 11 in alignment with the edge of the door. Proximate the upper end of the vertical member 11 there is afiixed to the member, means for engaging the handle ofthe door to affix the vertical member 11 to the edge thereof. In the presently preferred embodiment, the door handle engaging means 19 consists of a pair of spaced apart hooks which span the door and are engageable with the base portion 17 of the knob at the opposite sides of the door. That is, in the embodiment shown a heavy metallic rod is bent into a generally U-shaped configuration sufficient apart by a distance greater than the thickness of the door and are of sulficient length to engage the knob. Hooks 18 are formed at the ends of the legs of the engaging member 19 and are of a suitable radius and configuration to engage the base of the knobs 17. Thus the vertical member 11 can be attached to a door by abutting the lower portion of the member 11 against the edge of the door with the bracket 14 spanning the thickness of the door, and with the hooks 18 of the holding means 19 extending over and connected to the knobs. Above the brackets 14 the inner edge surface 21 of the vertical member 11 is preferably tapered upward and outward in order that a wedge shaped tightening member 22 can be inserted between the vertical member 11 and the edge of the door 12. By forcing the wedge shaped member downward the vertical member 11 is connected to the door in a rigid manner.

A shoe support member 24 adapted to support and position a shoe on the upper surface thereof is afixed to and extends generally horizontally outward from, the lower end of the vertical support member 11. The shoe support 24 is preferably detachable from the vertical member 11. Thus, in the presently preferred embodiment a metallic U-shaped bracket 25 is affixed at the lower end of the vertical support member 11 and the bracket 25 is so formed that the inner end 26 of the shoe support 24 is slidably mateable therewith. The shoe support member 24 can then be inserted into the bracket 25 and securely held in the required position at which it extends from the lower end of the vertical support member 11. Latching means 27 are provided to retain the shoe support member 24 in the assembled position upon the vertical support member 11. In the embodiment shown a pin latch of the type well known" to the art is affixed to the outer edge of the vertical support member and is slidably mateable with an opening 28 in the upper surface of the shoe support member at the position at which the shoe support member is fully inserted into the bracket 25.

Clamping bracket 30 extends outwardly from the vertical support member 11 spaced above and extending substantially parallel to the shoe support member 24 as a means for clamping the shoe into position upon the shoe support 24. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 and shown in detail in Figure 3, the clamping bracket 30 defines a slot 31, which is sufficient in width to allow the insertion therethrough of the blade 32 of a shoe clamp 35. The clamp bracket 30 is slotted inward beyond the clamp slot 31 by means of a narrower slot 33 which allows the slot 31 to be decreased in width to shirt the clamp blade 32 in position. To obtain'a fixing force upon the clamp blade 32 a tightening screw 36 is inserted through the clamp bracket 30 and the slot 31 such that when a wing nut 34 is tightened, the slot 31 is narrowed sufliciently to engage the clamp blade 32. Thus, the shoe clamp 35 can be inserted downward through the slot 31 of the clamp bracket 30 and affixed in position both vertically and horizontally by tightening the wing nut 34 when the shoe clamp 35 is in the proper position.

7 In order to fasten and stiffen the shoe to be cleaned or polished, there is utilized a heel fastener 37 and a shoe stiffener 38 as shown particularly in Figure 4. The shoe stiffener 38 is of the type well known to the art which is inserted into the body of the shoe and moved upward toward the toe to support the leather of the shoe so that it may be cleaned or shined in a stiffened positioned. The heel fastener 37 is a block of material such as wood which is mateable with the heel portion of the shoe and is insertable therein. A slot 39 extends throughout the length of the heel fastener 37 and is of sufficient width to accommodate the blade 32 of the shoe clamp 35.

Thus, in operation, the apparatus is mounted upon a door 12 as described hereinbefore by abutting the vertical support member 11 against the edge of the door with the bracket 14 spanning the door and the fastening member 19 hooked over the knob 17 of the door; The wedging member 22 is forced downward to securely position the apparatus upon the edge of the door. The toe member is inserted into the shoe to be cleaned. The shoe support 24 when assembled into the vertical member 11 is locked in position by the latching pin 27. The shoe is positioned upon the shoe support member 24. The heel fastener 37 is placed into the shoe and the shoe clamp 35 is inserted downward through the slot 31 in the clamp bracket 30. After the clamp' 35 has been inserted to the position at which the blade firmly engages the heel fastener 37 and locks the shoe in position, the wing nut 34 is tightened to affix the shoe for cleaning or shining.

Thus, what has been described is a shoe stiffening and supporting member for positioning a shoe at a location which is convenient for cleaning, shining, or polishing operations upon the shoe. The apparatus is adapted to be fitted against the edge of a household door in such a manner that it positions the shoe at a. convenient location. The apparatus is economical to manufactur'e and simple and rugged in construction.

Whatis claimed is: H

l. A holding device removably attachable to a door having'knobs on each side thereof which comprises: a vertical member adapted to abut the edge of a door, said member being approximately equal in thickness to the thickness of said door, and the edge surface of said vertical member being closest to the edge of said door being tapered upwardly and outwardly; means proximate the lower portion of said vertical member for maintaining said member in alignment with the edge of said door; fastening means pivotally affixed to said member proximate the upper portion thereof and'extending along opposite sides of said member, said fastening means terinitiating in hooks to engage the knobs of said door at opposite sides thereof; and a wedge-shaped member insertable between said vertical member and said door edge to afiix said vertical member firmly against the edge of said door.

2. A portable shoe shining apparatus removably mountable on a door having knobs on both sides thereof for holding a shoe to be shined comprising: a vertical member adapted to abut the edge of a door, said member being approximately equal in thickness to the thickness of said door; means proximate the lower portion of said vertical member for maintaining said member in alignment with the edge of said door; fastening means pivotally afl'ixed to said member proximate the upper portion thereof and extending along opposite sides of said member, said fastening means terminating in books adapted to engage the knobs of said door at'opposed sides thereof, said vertical member being upwardly and outwardly tapered along a portion of the edge surface thereof closest to said door; a wedge means insertable between said vertical member and said door edge to affix said vertical member firmly against the edge of said door;

a shoe support member extending substantially horizontally from said vertical member, the upper surface of said shoe support member being adapted to support a shoe in shining position; and means for clamping said shoe to said shoe support.

3. A portable shoe shining apparatus removably mountable on a door having knobs on both sides thereof for holding a shoe to be shined comprising: a vertical member adapted to abut the edge of a door, said member being approximately equal in thickness to the thickness of said door; means proximate the lower portion of said vertical member for maintaining said member in alignment with the edge of said door; fastening means pivotally afiixed to said member proximate the upper portion thereof and extending along opposite sides of said member, said fastening means terminating in' hooks adapted to engage the knobs of said door at opposed sides thereof, said vertical member being upwardly. and outwardly tapered along a portion of the edge surface thereof closest to said door; a wedge means insertable between said vertical member and said door edge to afiix' said vertical member firmly against the edge of said door; a shoe support member extending substantially horizontally from said vertical member at the lower end thereof, the upper surface of said shoe support member being adapted to support a shoe in shining position; a bracket extending outwardly from said vertical member spaced above said shoe support member; and a clamping member vertically movable with respect to said bracket for clamping said shoe to said shoe support member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

